The Economy

• Labour’s plans to reform business rates will help our high streets flourish and deliver fairness for small businesses with the introduction of an Amazon tax to ensure online giants pay their fair share.
• Labour’s Green Prosperity Plan will jumpstart the energy revolution in Scotland, supporting 50,000 Scottish jobs in clean power and headquartering our publicly owned energy company GB Energy in Scotland.

Labour will reform the skills landscape in Scotland to one that works for workers and employers. We want businesses to be able to access the talent they need to grow and Scottish workers who are training for the high skilled, high-wage jobs of the future.

Scottish Labour believes in growth, recognises the crucial role that economic growth plays in delivering strong public services and social change. Businesses must be successful to build the strong economy and create the jobs our country needs. Our Business Case for Scotland sets out our plans to partner with business and grow Scotland’s economy.

Commitments contained in the plan include

At a Scottish level:

•  Simplify Scotland’s enterprise agency landscape so that it is better aligned to deliver innovation, up-skill workers and attract investment.
• Embed technology across the economy and in Scottish public services to support excellence and ensure future generations are tech and business ready.
• Develop a clear skills plan with transition pathways into the green economy, while maintaining international competitiveness to safeguard the gold standard skills base in the north-east.
• Work with businesses and educational institutions to address skills gaps and drive excellence through clear career pathways and specialist training routes for those in hospitality, tourism, and food and drink.
• Reform Scotland’s planning system so it is an asset in attracting investment by providing efficiency and certainty for developers, benchmarked against international best practice.
• Partner with business to maximise the opportunities that flow from financial services’ deep institutional links in Scotland and our geographic proximity to London.
• Provide clarity for business owners and households on national retrofitting standards with clear guidance on technology, finance, and contractors.

Working with a UK Labour Government:

• Establish GB energy in Scotland, a publicly-owned energy generation company that will drive forward the planning of the UK’s energy system, support new technology, and attract global investment.
• Invest in Scotland’s ports through UK Labour’s National Wealth Fund so they are renewables-ready and competitive for supply chain projects such as manufacture, maintenance, and decommissioning.
• Use the Scotland Office, UK embassies, and diaspora to capitalise on Scotland’s significant soft power and promote Brand Scotland on a global stage.
• Ensure trade strategies are informed by the needs of Scottish business, helping UK trade negotiators work meaningfully with the Scottish Government to help promote visions for growth.
• Ensure Scotland has a voice in the immigration system, with reforms to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to ensure representation from across the UK.